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June 30, 2005

Life-Changing Dreams

"Let me be clear as possible: if the Internet improved our quality of life via the Information Superhighway, then nanotechnology should be considered the Express Lane for future technological breakthroughs to make our lives simpler, safer and more enjoyable," said Mr. O’Connor. . . "Life-changing dreams are becoming reality in our nation's nanotechnology labs and we must press forward in a coordinated, collaborative fashion between Federal and State governments, businesses in the private sector, and our academic institutions to ensure America's competitiveness, boost our economy and improve our citizens' quality of life."

That's Jim O’Connor, vice president of Technological Commercialization at Motorola, in recent testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Science Subcommittee on Research.

We agree with his vision, or at least with what his vision appears to be. The benefits of advanced nanotechnology will represent "life-changing dreams" for many people.

But realization of those dreams does not come without risk. It's not responsible to hold out a carrot for people to see without warning them about the big pit they might fall into. Our technological march toward the future must be accompanied by a parallel march to discover and prepare for the serious societal and environmental implications.